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THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



Mowbray says "the Polanders are not only 

 kept as ornamental, but they are of the most 

 useful varieties, particularly on account of the 

 abundance of the eggs they lay, being least in- 

 clined to sit of any other breed, whence they 

 are sometimes called everlasting layers, and it is 

 usual to set their eggs under other hens. They 

 fatten as quickly as any other breed, and in 

 quality similar to the Dorking; their flesh per- 

 haps a little more juicy and of a richer flavor. 

 They are a quiet, domestic fowl, neither quar- 

 relsome nor mischievous, and their eggs of a 

 good size, fine flavored, and thin shells." 



They do not lay quite so early in the season 

 as some varieties, especially after a hard win- 

 ter ; but they are exceedingly good layers, and 

 continue a long time without wanting to sit. 

 They will sit, however, at length, and prove of 

 very diverse dispositions ; some being excellent 

 sitters and nurses, others heedless and spiteful. 

 The chickens, when first hatched, are a dull 

 black, with white breasts, with white down on 

 the top of the head, rising sufficiently high to 

 indicate the breed to which they belong. They 

 do not always grow and get out of harm's way 

 so quickly as some others, but are not particu- 

 larly tender. 



The chickens of the entirely black and the 

 entirely white varieties resemble their respect- 

 ive parents in color, allowing for the difference 

 between down and feather. They are no soon- 

 er hatched than peculiarities may be noticed by 

 which they may at once be distinguished from 

 those of any other fowls ; viz., the elevated roof 

 of the nostril, the round and prominent appear- 

 ance of the head, and also the fatty substance, 

 forming a nidus or cushion, from which the fu- 

 ture top-knot grows. In the best specimens it 

 is large, and seems to include the whole upper 

 part of the head ; in inferior breeds with small 

 top-knots it is but indistinctly developed. Dr. 

 Horner says this test is so accurate, that when- 

 ever it is considered desirable to rear only the 

 h'nest birds, all those which are found wanting 

 in this respect may be safely discarded. 



Feathering and growth progress at the usual 

 rate; and when two or three months old, they 

 are certainly most attractive little creatures; 

 their top-knots at this age add to their singu- 



larity by giving them a most unique appear- 

 ance. From the entire absence of the comb at 

 this age, there is the greatest difficulty in distin- 

 guishing the sexes (this will apply to all the 

 crested varieties) ; till their first moult, indeed, 

 it is impossible to decide the point with cer- 

 tainty. 



The most critical period extends over about 

 three weeks or a month ; for, feathering early, 

 their constitution is severely tested by the heavy 

 drain then made upon it. This point, however, 

 once passed, they are quite as hardy as the 

 chickens of other families ; nor have we found 

 them " fixed" or stationary, at any subsequent 

 period of their growth. 



However ornamental in appearance, merito- 

 rious as layers, and excellent as table fowls, thje 

 Polish, or any of the top-knot varieties, are ill- 

 calculated for the vicissitudes of the ordinary 

 farm-yard. Their not being to be depended 

 upon as sitters, their non-laying character dur- 

 ing winter, and the care that is required for the 

 chickens in their early days, are objections that 

 are justly urged against them as a farmer's fowl. 

 But whenever the other unquestionable good 

 qualities of this bird, and the beauties of its 

 form and feathering are held to compensate 

 for these drawbacks, we strongly advise a selec- 

 tion from some one or other of the numerous 

 varieties. 



As regards food, their consumption may be 

 placed at the same cost as the common fowl 

 Game fowls being considered the cheapest in 

 point of maintenance, from their vigorous con- 

 stitution, and the large quantity of natural food 

 that their rambling habits enable them to pro- 

 cure. 



GOLDEN-CRESTED FOWL. 



This, as an ornamental variety, we esteem 

 above all others for their splendid plumage of 

 bright and odd contrasted colors, similar to the 

 Golden-spangled fowl of the English writers. 

 The portraits were taken from specimens in our 

 own yard. In size, they are less than the Black 

 Polands, and larger than the common sized Ban- 

 tams, and of beautiful symmetry ; bodies rather 

 long and round; tail standing high, and long 

 and full in proportion to the size of the body ; 



